02 January 2012

new year; or why we should be fun & festive in the dead of winter

true, it isn't winter everywhere in the world. In some places it is summer, in others the weather doesn't actually approach the traditional thoughts of winter. Still, there is no reason that we have to pretend that since the "holiday" season is over we still don't sometimes want an excuse to dress up and gather together. Here in Pennsylvania, we need the accumulated body heat over the next couple of months.

Christmas and New Year's is over, bringing an end to the traditional gorging on family gatherings, cookies, and tipples. Most are still sticking to their resolutions; it's still only the second of January. But when that time comes that most have completed their yearly resolution let down, be ready to throw  a party. Right now, we are all sick of seeing each other...or not seeing the people we want to see, having been forced into family stuff {not me, I see my family every day, but I've just had two days where we closed the store in the span of one week. I'm energized and ready to go}.

For my family, New Year's Eve is generally a night for a bit of fancy dressing up, then sitting around the kitchen table eating and drinking. Usually a few friends drop in, we watch the ball drop, drink something fizzy, eat some more and go home. It's pretty low key and completely enjoyable, so long as I don't lose the Trivial Pursuit game that may or may not pop up most years. Mom always spends a bit of time playing with the bayberry candles to be certain they burn out properly and completely for good luck...and this year was no exception. Dad hand dips the candles because it is nearly impossible to find bayberry tapers to burn each evening from Christmas Day until they burn out completely for good luck before midnight on New Year's Eve.

I got a bit carried away with my new "remote commander" for the camera and some fashion-y, vaguely arty shots before my Christmas decorations came down. Enjoy, keep reading, and look for more food, fashion, and randomness to come throughout the year!

"Be well. Do good work. Keep in touch." - Garrison Keillor

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